Pneumatic music-sheet control for player pianos



A ril '20 ,-1926.

J. H. KARSTETTER PNEUMATIC MUSIC SHEET CONTROL FOR PLAYER HANDS Filed J an 5, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April '20, 1926.

J. H. KARSTETTER PNEUMATIC MUSIC SHEET CONTROL FOR PLAYER PIANOS 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.

M a w a m a A, K. p m w m i 1% aw Q w (M %la WM /w April 20, 1926';

PNEUMATvUSI C SHEET CONTROL FOR PLAYER PIANOS Filed Jan. 5, 192's 3 Sheets-Sh'eet- 5" 90 'glr fi 2 36 I7 mfg 6 /b n l5 1 I I -l 86 87 l as j;

)4 Fr a: ta I gwuemkou 7 V'' 7 Z i 3%. J H- Kara-2128861- L..l%

Patented Apr. 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 1

Joint H. KARSTE'ITER, or AL'IO'ONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PNEUMATIC Music-errant: CONTROL FOR BLAYER rmivos.

Application filed January 5, 1923, SeriaLNo. 610L834.

1 '0 all whom it mag camera:

Be it known that JOHN I LKAnsrnrrnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the countyof Blair and State of Pennsylvania, has inventedcertain new and nseiul Improvements in-Pn'eul'natic Mus1c- Sheet Controls for Player Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invcntion relates touautom atic controls for the music sheets of player .pi'anos. The invention has as itsgeneral object to provide a pneumatic device which; will operate to automatically maintain the music sheet of a player piano properlycoordinatetl with the tracker bar duringtheplaying of aselection and thereby obviatethe discords which are produced when th'ejshee t travels unevenly or shiftsiacross thetrac'ker bar'in its travel; y a y y One of the primary object/of 'the invention is to provide means which will operate automatically to coordinate, the; traveling shetgwith the tracker bar and to maintain the same so coordinated'during the entire t me ot the travel of the sheet overthe trackeifbar, the neans'beingso v[constructed and operating in ,s"uch a manner' as .to obviate shifting of the sheet across the bar an un-t due distance.

Another 01) videf in apparatus of this class a novelpneumatic control which will operate with pre -V cision and in a most eflicient manner;

In the accompanying jclrawings z u Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the apparatus embodying the invention I installed,

so much of the mechani'sin of theinstrumcnt being shown as is necessary to illustrate the application of the invention;

, Figure 2 1s a perspective yiew illustrating the pneumatic controland the prime mover associated therewith, the partsbeing relatively separated V V Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of theiupper section of the chest of the pneumatic control; I y Figure 4 1s atop vplan View o't'the lower section of said chest;

Figure 5 is a vertical lon'gltu'dinal section a'l View through the chest of the pneumatic control and the prime" mover associated therewith i Figure 6 1s a vertical tranigversc sectional by the arrows;

yiewtaken substantially on the limbf Figure 5 looking in the direction ind cated ect of thefinventi on pro- Figure 7 is aplan view of the cap'of the inlet head for the chest;

, i i i 4, n

Figure 8 is a plan View of the sa d head' with the cap removed; I V y 4 J t, Figure 9 1s a. transverse sect1onal. View taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the tracker box of any ordinafrykplayer'piano and in which box is mounte the usual tracker bar 2- and the music sheet rolls 3 and it which are respectively the storage roll and the take-up roll. The storage roll 3 for the music sheet, which sheet is indicated by the numeral 5, is supported in any of the conventional ways so that it may have limited shifting movement longitudinally, it being yieldably urgedin one direction by as ring 6 located atone end otithe spool an being adapted to be shifte din the op "osite direction, against the tension of sai s ring,

sheet of standard width so long as the sheet istraveling over the edge oi the tracker bar in a'uniform manner. In controlling apparatus of this class, means is employed to act automatically upon the storage roll 3 to longitudinally adjust the same and maintain the music sheet properly coordinated with the tracker bar duringthe trayel of the jsheet past the bar, the {means being operable to shift the said roll and the sheet upon uncovering of the openings corresponding' to the openings '8 in the present invention, and the invention contemplates the employment of a novel pneumatic chest and arrange ncntof valves therein for e fiec ting this result, as will now be explained.

Int-he drawings, the )neumatic chest is indicatedin general by the numeral 10 and the same is provided with a distributing head indicated in general b the numeral 11; V This head comprises a body 19 and a cap plate 13 which is removably secured upon the upper side thereof, an air-tight fit being obtained by the employment of a gasket or packing 14. Tubes 15, 16, 17 and 18 are fitted atone end into open ings in the cap plate 13, and by reference to Figure 1 of the drawings it will be observed that the tube 15 leads from the opening 8 at one end of the tracker bar, the tube 16' from the. corresponding opening at the other end of the tracker bar, the tube 17 from the opening 9 at the first-mentioned end of the bar, and the tube 18 from the opening 9 at the second-mentioned end of the bar. The body 12 of the distributing head 11 is shown clearly in plan in Figure 8 ofthe drawings and by reference to this figure and to Figure 9 it will be observed that thesaid body is formed at in 'tervals in its length with vertically extendlng air passages 19. Ducts 20, 21, 22 and- 23 are formed vertically in the body and communicate by lateral passages 24 with the lower ends of respective ones of the passages 19, and when the head 13 is assembled with the body 12, the ends oi the tubes 15, 16, and 18 will be placed in communication with the upper ends of the ducts 20, 21, 22 and 23, respectively", A straining medium, such, for example, as a disc of Wire gauze- 25, is arranged within the upper portion of each air passage 19 and above the plane.

ofthisdisc these air passages are placed, by way of lateral passages 26, incommunication with the upper ends of ducts 27, 28, 29 and 30, these ducts being located diagonally opposite the respective ducts 20, 21, 22'and 23, as shown in the said Figures 8 and 9. The distributing head 11 is secured upon the upper side of the pneumatic chest 10, and the lower ends ot the ducts 27, 28, 2 9 and 30 are in this manner placed in communicationrespectively with ducts 31, 32, 33 and 34 which are formed in a series in the upper section 35 of the pneumatic chest 10, it being observed, by reference to the drawings, that this chest comprises in ad-- dition to the upper section 35 a. lower section indicated by the numeral'36 and that these sections are disposed in assembled relation and secured together face to face in,

any suitable, manner, gaskets 37 being interposed between their meeting faces to provide an air-tight fit;

The upper face o't' the lower section 36 of the pneumatic chest is formed with spaced chambers 38 and 39,:i'nd positioned within these chambers are diaphragins 40 and 41, respectively, which, are of thin leather or some other flexible material. A duct 42 is formed in the said section 36 and communicates atone end with the lower end of the V duct 31 in the upper section 35 and at its other end with the chamber 38 beneath the dlaphragm 40. Ableed duct 43 communicates at one end with the chamber 38 above the diaphragm 40 and at its other end with the duct 31, and is of considerably less dimensions than the said duct 31. A duct 44 is also formed in the lower setion 36 of the pneumatic chest and communicates at one end with the duct 32 and at its other end with the chamber 39 beneath the diaphragm 41. Openings 45 and 46 are formed in the upper section 35 of the pneumatic chest and communicateat their lower ends, respectively with the chambers 38 and 39 above the diaphragms 40 and 41 in these chambers, and these openings 45 and 46 respectively accommodate the stems 47 of valves which are indicated respectively in general by the numerals 48 and 49. The valve 48 comprises, in addition to the stem 47, heads 50 and 51 fixed respectively at the lower and upper ends of its stem 47 and provided with tacings 52 and 53 of any suitable packing ma terial. The valve 49 comprises heads 54 and 55 fixed respectively at the lower and upper ends of its stem 47and provided with packing facings 56 and .57. In their normal positions, the valves 48 and 49 seat with their heads 50 and 54 respectively resting upon the diaphragms 40 and 41, the packing tacings 53 and 57 of the heads 51 and 55 of said valves resting upon the upper surface of the section 35 and closing the upperassume the sagged position shown in Figure 6, thus; permitting the valves 48 and 49 to assume the positions stated, the valvesbeing maintained in this position not only by gravity-but also by reason of the atmospheric pressure on their heads 51 and 55. Norm ally, therefore, the chest is closed to the atmosphere. A bleed duct 58 is provided in the top section 35 otthe pneumatic chest and communicates at one end with the chamber 39 above the diaphragm 41 and at its other end with the duct 32 and is 01 di-- mensions considerably less than those of the said duct 32, the bleed ducts 43 and 58 serving to normally equalize the pressure on the opposite surfaces of the diaphragnis 40 and 41.

The upper face of the lower section 36 of the pneumatic chest is formed with two sets of chambers 59 and 60, the chambers ot each set being placed in communication with each other by a passageway 61 formed ii said section 36; Ducts 62 and 63 are formed in the upper section 35 of the pneumatic communicates with one end of the duct 64,

the other end of said duct 64 communicatig'eshtas cates a head which is'fixed upon the upper side of each diaphragm 66, and, inconnection with the facing ""67, forms a valve.

Chambers 70 and 71 are formed in'th e under side of the upper section of the pneumatic chest and are closed on their under sides by diaphragms 72 and 73,; respectively. The

said npper section -35 is formed with a duct 74 which constitutes an extension from the duct34= andcommunicates with th'cchan'iber above the diaphragm 72. This section. is also formed with a duct 75 whieh'consti-' tutes a continuation or extension of the duct 33 and communicates with the chamber 71.

above the diaphragm 73. A bleed duct 7 6 leads from thechamber 70 and opens at the in s. diiiphragms 79', the upper section 35 of the pneumatic chest is formed with an opening underside of the section 35, and a bleed duct 77 leads in like manner-from the duct 75 andopens through theunder side of the said section 35, all theblced ducts opening into the reducedpressnre chamber formed between theoppo'sed faces of the sections 35, 36. By referenoe'to Fiigsr3, 4 and-5 of the drawings it Wlll'bB observed that/the diaphragms 72 and? and the chambers 70 71. with which they are associated are of greater diameter than the respective chambers 59 and the active areas of their respective diaphragms 66, the" chamber 59 being directly below the chambers 70 and 71. Small bleed vents '78 are provided in the lower section 36 ofthe pneumatic chest and establish conn'l'uinication:between the ducts 61 and the space above the diaphragmsfih Diaphragms 79 are arranged" above the chambers 60 and normally assume the sagged position shown in Figure 5 of the draw- Above each of the chambersfit) and 80 through which loosely extends the stem 81 of a valve indicated ingeneralby the numeral Heads 83 and 8e are fixed to the stem 81 of'ewch ofsaidvalvesat' the lower; and. upper] ends thereof, res ectively, and are provided with packing fae ings 85 and 86, respectively, it being observed by referen ceytothesaid Figure '5 that normally the packing facing 86' of each valve .will rest upon the upper surface of the section 35 of thepneumatic chest and close the up er end of the" res ective opening 80 A net SHQadaIetereHy ach opening 80 and is placed in communication with a respective duct 88 formed in the upright head 8901 apr'ime mover which is indicated in general by the numeral 90, a nipple or sleeve 871 being provided to couple the ducts 87 and 88.

The prime mover referred to above, is preferably in the form of a double bellows c0mprising',-in addition to the head 89, an intermediate partition wall 91 and. side walls 92, the space between the said walls 91 and 92 being bridged bythe webs 93 of the bellows and thus closed to the atmosphere. The intermediate or partition wall 91 of the bellows is rigidly mounted and secured by means of screws or other suitable fastening devices 94, upon thehead 89 of the prime mover, whereasthe sidewalls 92 are suitably hingedly mounted upon saidhead so that they may have movement relative to the said intermediate or partition wall. The

pneumatic chest issecuredto the head 89 by 1 screws inserted through the lower corneis of the head into screw holes provided in the The corresponding corners of the chest.

ducts 88 are so arranged, as will be evident by reference to Figure 5 of the drawings,

that each will communicate with a respective one of the two pockets of the bellows. The numeral 95 indicates a pipe which is led through the lower portion of the. head 89 of the ,prime'mover and through'the end of the lowerseetion 36 of the pneumatic chest and communicates with the space within the chest above the: diaphragms79 and 66. Theipipe 95'le'ads' to the exhaust wind chest of the instrument. i

' he numeral 96' indicates abridge membtlI',-Wl1lCl1 is secured upon'th'e upper sides .ot the walls 92 of the bellows, constituting the prime mover, and this bridge piec'eis preferably formed with anopening 97 in which looselyffits the lower endof an arm 98 which depends from one end of a rod or shaft 99 supported for rocking movement within the trackei' box arbove the roll 3. The other endof the shaft 99 is provided likewise with a depending arm 100 which has a laterally inwardly turned lower end 101 engaging in an opening in an arm 102 mounted at its lower end, as

at 103, for swinging movement. The upper end of the arm 102 is located opposite the adjacent end of the spindle for the spool 3 v and the said arm is provided at its said end with a head 104 which constitutes in effect a cam for coaction with the said end I of the spool. spindle in the rocking movement of the arm 102, itb'eing understood that when thearm s swung in one direc'-' tion, the cam head 104 will be so moved as to permit of lateral displacement of the spool 3 under the influence of the spring 6 and that when the arm is swung in the opposite direction, the earn head will ride against the diaphragm 66,'it will ll u,.

against the end of the spindle for the said spool and will shift or displace the spool longitudinally in the opposite direction and against the tension of the said spring.

By reference to Figure 1 6f the drawings it will be observed that when a music sheet of standard width is employed and the sheet is free from marginal defects and is properly coordinated with the tracker bar, all of the openings 8 and 9will be closed by the margin-a1 portions of the sheet. 7 However, should the sheetbeco-me displaced with relation to the tracker bar, during its travel thereover, from any cause whatsoever,-one or moreof said openings will be uncoveret with the result that the pneumatic control will operate automatically to restore the sheet to its coordinated position. Under normal conditions all of the openings 8 and 9 will be closed, as stated, and inasmuch as both ducts SS which are in communication with the air pockets of the bellows comn'ising the prime mover, are likewise in communication, by way of thcopenings 80., with the soace above the diaphragtgms (i6 and 79, and the exhaust tube 95 is also in cominunication with this space, there is reduced pressure to like degree in both sides of the bellows and therefore the side walls 92 thereof will be maintained in position equidistantly spaced from the, intermediate or partition wall 91. Likewise, under these conditions, the arm 102 will maintain an intermediate position in which the end of the spindle for the spool 3 will engage against the n1id-portion of the cam head 10 i, and so long as thesefconditions prevail, the parts will remain at rest. However, if, in the travel of the music sheet over the tracker bar, the sheet becomes displaced or laterally shifted, or there is any tendency toward such shifting, and it for example, under these conditions, the open ing 8 at the right hand end otthe tracker bar in Figure 1 is uncovered, air under uti'x'iospheric pressure willenter through the said opening 8 and will pass through the tube 15 to the duct 20 from which it will pass, by way of the passageQd, into the passage 19. upwardly through the screen or straiuii'ig medium 25, which rc moves all particles of dust, the air will I r 1. .1 .4. pass by way of the passage 26 into tnc duct 27 and from thisduct through the duct ll and duct 42 into the chamberElS at which time it will act upon the diaphragm 40 to litt the same and with it the valve 48. \Vhen this valve is lifted the lower end of the opening 45 willv be closed andthe upper end of said opening will be uncovered to the atmosphere so. that air under atmospheric pressure may enter through the opening and pass through the ducts 62 and 64L and into the adjacent chamber 59 where, gctipg t tne tube 17 and pass through the ducts same, to 'ether with the head 69 thereon. At this time the diaphragm 79 will be lifted and with it the valve 82 thus closing the lower end of the opening 80 and exposing the upper end of the opening to the atmosphere. As there is reduced pressure in the pockets of the bellows, air under atmospheric pressure will enter through the opening 80 and ducts 87 and S8 and into that one of the pockets with which the said valve 82-is associated to expand said pocket. This will influence movement in unison of the two side walls 92 of the bellows through the connecting bridge and, as the bellows walls move in the manner stated, slight rocking motion will be imparted to the shaft or rod 99 and'will be communicated finally to the arm 102, in the rocking movement of which the camhead lO l will be two sides of the bellows so that the music sheet will be thus coordinated with the tracker bar and maintained in such relation f Underother conditions the music sheet might beso narrow thatzin traveling evenly over the tracker bar both of the openings 8 would be exposed or uncovered. It will be evident from the foregoing that with both openings uncovered air under atmospheric,

pressure would fill both pockets of the bellows and the sheet shifting means would therefore be in equilibrium. Should the sheet move laterally, as for example toward the left, its right hand margin, in Figure 1, would uncover the corresponding opening 9. Upon uncovering of this opening, air under atmospheric pressure will enter through the 22, 24, 19, 26, 29 and to the duct 75 and thence into the chamber 71 above the diaphragm 73, bulging the-diaphragm downwardly and causing it to excrtpressure in a downward establish equilibrium inpressure within the direction against the respective head 69' causing the valvedisc 67 to close the discharge end of the duct 65 thus shutting off the supply of air to the associated chamber "60, the air which ,hasbe-en trapped in said chamber 60 being bled through the respective bleed orifice 7 8 thus permitting the diaphragm 79 to collapse and allowing the valve 82 to seat in the position shown in Figurefi ot' the drawings. This movement of; the valve serves to cut off i the supply of air '5 under atmosphericpressure to tie associated bellows pocketby Way of the correspondingducts 87-and 88', and places this pocket in communication with the space within the pneumatic chest above the .dia-

phragm '79, the reduction in pressure effect ing a movement of the Walls of the bellows pockets to actuate the-sheet shifting mechanism to eflect a movement of the sheet toward the right until the right hand opening 9has been again covered, or until the left hand opening 9 hasbeen-iuncovered.

From the foregoing it will be evident that with a sheet of standard Width and free from defects, both sets of openings 8 and 9 will be ooveredTduring the time oft-the passageuof the sheet over the tracker bar-s that the sheet will becoordinated with said bar and that it will likewisebe coordinated under conditioi'iswvhei'e both openings 8 are unoovered,i;as in the case ofa sheetslightly narrower than the standard, or when both openings 8 and both openings 9 are simultaneously uncovered as inthe case of a still narrower. sheet. i v

. -'I'hebleeds L3 and 58 serve the purpose of bleeding the air whichhas-been trapped .above the diaphragms {l0 and 41 thus-permitting the diaphragms to collapse after the s-heethas been shifted to coordinate it with the tracker bar, and the openings 8' have been re-covered. The bleeds 76 and .77serve a like purpose iii-conjunction withthe respcctive diaphragmsZ2-and73 and the air chambers 70 and 7 1- with which said diaphragms are associated- N V A q p a 1 From the. foregoing it livill be evident that the nncovering oftheopenings'. 8 and -9 eficcts the establishment-of different pressure conditions in the two chambers of the pneumatic sovas to maintain the musicsheet inj coordinated relation to the 1 tracker bar,

and, by pressure conditions I a mean the admission of air under atmospheric pressure into the chambers oithepneumatic,the'p1acis claimed as newiis:

ing; of the chambers incomnninication with thepneumatic chest to'iefi'ectan evacuation of; said chambers, and also.- the establishment of like; pressures in a said chambers.

Having thus described-the invention, what .1. In automatic musicI-sheetcontrolling means for player pianos and like instrn-- ments, i in combination, a tracker'bar: having the usual series of openings, a set ofiopenings located one at each end of the said series, means for effecting lateral shifting movement of amusic sheet passing over the tracker bar embodying a prime move'r comprising a tvvo-chambered pneumatic, a pneumatic chest ihaving a v negative-pressure chamber and air passages in communication with the atmosphere ,andialso establishing communication between the chamber and re spective ones of the chambers of the v pneu matic, valves controlling said passages and arrangedin a lowered posit on to close communication between therespective chambers of the pneumatic and the atmosphere and opencommunication bet eensa-id respective chambers of the pneumatic and the chamber of the pneumatic chest and in-an elevated position to open communication between the respective chambers of thepneumaticigand the atmosphere and close communication between -said respective chambers and the chamberv ofthe pneumatic chest, the said pneumatic chest having airchamber-adiaphragms extending over said chambersand located each beneath a respective one of the said valves, andmeans actuated throughadof the (openings of the first-mentioned set,

means'for effecting lateral shifting move ment ofuia music sheet passingaover the tracker barembodyinga prime mover compr-ising a two-chambered pneumatic, a pneumatic 'chesthaving a negative-pressure chamber and aifr passages in communication with the atmosphere and also establishing com- ,lnunication between the chamber and respective ones oit the chambersof the pneumatic, valves controlling said passages andfarranged in ailowered position to close communication between the respective chambers of the pneumatic and -.the atmosphereand open communication between sai'drespective "chambers ,of the pneun atic and the cln: mber ofithe gpneumatic chest and in an elevated position ,toope'n communication betivcenthe respective chambers of the pneumaticand the atmospherelandclose communication be,- tween said respective chambers and the j chamber of the pneumatic chest, th said pneumatic chest having air chambers, diaph-ragms extending over said chambers and located each beneath a respective one of the said valves, means actuated through =2idIlllS- sion of air through respective ones of the openings of the first-mentioned set foradmitting air under atmospheric pressure into respective ones a of the last-mentioned air chambers beneaththe respective diaplnagms to elevate the respective valves, and means actuated through admission of air underutmospheric pressure through respective ones of the openings of the second-mentioned set v to interrupt such'passage of air through the respective last-mentioned chamber beneath the respective diaphragm. e r

3. In automatic music sheet controlling means for player pianos and like instruments, in combination, a tracker bar having the usual series of openings,-a set of open ings located one at each end of said series, and a second set of openings located each in inwardly offset relation to a respective one of the openings of the first-mentioned set, means for effecting lateral shifting movement of a music sheet passing ovcr the tracker bar embodying a prime mover comprising a two-chambered pneumatic, a pneumatic chest having a negative-pressure chamber and air passages in communication with the atmosphere and also establishing communication betweenthe chamber and respective ones of the chambers of the pneumatic, valves controlling said passages and arranged ina lowered position to close communication between the respective chambers of the pneumatic and the atmosphere and open communication between said respective chambers of the pneumatic and the chamber of the pneumatic chest and in an elevated position to open communication between the respective chambers of the pneumatic and the atmosphere and close communication between said respective chambers and the chamber of the pneumatic chest, the said pneumatic chest having air chambers, diaphragms extending over said chambers and located each beneath a respective one of the said valves, means actuated through admission of air through respectives ones of the openings of the first-mentioned set for adm1tt1ng air under atmospherlc pressureinto respective ones of the last-mentioned air" chambers beneath the respective diaphragms to elevate the respective valves, means actuated through admission of air under atmospheric'pressure through respective ones of the openings of the second-mentioned set to interrupt such passage of air through the respective last-mentioned chamber beneath the respective diaphragm andmeans for antomatically bleeding the last-mentioned chamber to the negative-pressure chamber of thepneumatic chest at such time. i

4. In automatic music sheet controlling means 'for player pianos and like instruments, in combination, a trackerbar having the usual series of openings, a set of openings located one at each end of said series, and a second set of openings located each in inwardly offset relation to a respective one of the openings of the first-mentioned set, means for effecting lateral shifting movement of a music sheet passing over the tracker bar embodying a prime mover comprising a, two-chambered pneumatic, apneumatic chest having a negative-pressure"chamber and air passages in communication with the atmosphere and also establishing communicatlon between the chamber and respective ones of the chambers of the pneumatic,

valves controlling said passages and arranged in a lowered position to close communication between the respective chambers of the pneumatic and the atmosphere and open communication between said respective chambers of the pneumatic and the chamber ofthe pneumatic chest and in an elevated position to open communication between the respective chambers of the pneumatic and the atmosphere and close communication between said respective chambers and the chamber of the pneumatic chest, the said pneumatic chest having air chambers, diaphragms extending over said chambers and located each beneath a respective one of the said valves, means actuated through admission of air through respective ones of the openings oi the first-mentioned set for admitting air under atmospheric pressure into respective ones or the last-mentioned air chambers beneath the respective diaphragms to elevate the respective valves, and means actuated through admission of air under atmospheric pressure through respective ones of the openings of the second-mentioned set to interrupt such passage of air through the respective last-mentioned chamber beneath the respective diaphragm, the said means con'iprising air passages establishing communication between the atmosphere and re spective ones of the diaphragm covered chambers, a diaphragm located at an intermediate point in each passage, a valve associated with each of the 1a'st mentioneddia- 'phragms for the purpose stated, and diaphragms coacting with respective ones of the last-mentioned diaphragmsto seat the valve of the openings of the first-mentioned set,

means for eitecting'lateral shifting move- "ment of a music sheet passing over the tracker bar embodying a prime mover comprising a two-chambered pneumatic, a pneumatic chest having a negative-pressure chamber and air passages in communication with the atmosphere and also establishing communication between the chamber and respective ones of the chambers of the pneumatic, valves controlling said passages and arranged in a lowered position to close communication between the respective chambers oi? the pneumatic and" the atmosphere and open communication between said :respective chambersof the pneumatic and the chamber of the pneumatic chest and in an elevated po- ,sition to open communication between the respective chambers of the pneumatic and the atmosphere and close communication between said respective chambers and the chamber of the pneumatic chest, the said pneumatic chest having air chambers, diaphragms extending over said chambers and located each beneath a respective one of the said valves, means actuated through admission of air throughrespective ones v0t the atmospheric pressure through respective ones of the openingsof the second-mentioned set to nterrupt such passage of an: through the respective last-mentioned chamber beneath the respective diaphragm,thesaid means comprising air passages establishingcommun-ication bctweenthe atmosphere and respective -'-ones of' the diaphragm covered chambers, a diaphragm located at an intermediate poi-nt in each passage, a valve associated with each of the last-mentioneddiaphragms for the purpose stated, and dia-. phragms coacti with respective ones of the lastmentioned diaphragms to seat the valve,

elements upon distention of the respective last-mentioned diaphragms, the openings 01 the second set being-in communication with the spaces behind the last-mentioned diaphrag ,nns, and said last mentioned dia phragms being of greater area than the respective second-mentioned diapl'lragms.

6. In automatic music sheet controlling means for player pianos, in combination, a tracker car having the: usual series of openings and additional pairs of relatively laterally oliset openings at the ends of said series, means for eli'ccting lateral shifting movement of a music. sheet passing over the bar embodying a two-chambered pneumatic, a pneumatic chest, a wind chest conduit in communication with the interior thereof, the pneumatic chest having air passagesin communication with resl'iectivechambers ofthe pneumatic and having intakes opening to the atmosphere, valves normally closing the intakes, a diaphragmassociated with each of said valves, air passages within the pncumatic chest for admitting atmospheric air behind respective ones of the diaphragms to actuate the respective valves, valve means normally closing said passages and adapted to be rendered inactive to admit airthrough the respective passages upon uncovering of a respective one of the said pairs of openings at either end of the bar, valves normally closing thesaid lastmentionedpassagcs inwardly oftheir intake ends and adapted to open automatically 'upon admission-of air through the respective passages in the uncovering of the first-mentioned openings of the said pairs, and pneumatic means for closing and resisting opening of the last-mentioned valves 'upon uncovering of the respective other ones of said pairs of openings.

7. In automatic music sheet controlling means for player pianos, in combination, a tracker bar having the usual series of openings and additional pairs of relatively lat.-

-6l"1ll y offset openings at the ends of said series, means for effecting lateral. shifting movement oi; amusic sheet passing over-the bar embodying a two-chambered pneumatic,

pneumatic chest, a wind chest conduit in communication with the interior thereof, the pneumatic chest having air passages in: com.- municati'on Wltll respective chambers of the pneumatic and having intakes opening to the atmosphere, valves normally closing the intakes, a diaphragm associated with each of said valves, air passages within the pneumatic chest for admitting atmospheric air behind respective onesoi the diaphragms to actuate respective valves, valve means normally closing said passages and-adapted to be rendered inactive to adniitair through the respective pasages upon uncovei'ingoit a respective one of the said pairs of openings at either end of the bar, valves normally closing the said. l'astn icnti o ned passages inward l yof their intake ends and adapted to open auton'iatically 11 p011 admissi on oi? air through the respective passagesin the uncovering ot the first-mentioncd openings of the said pairs, and pneumatic means for closing and resisting opening of the last-mentioned valves upon uncovering of the respective other ones of said pairs of openings, the last-mentioned means com, prising diaphragms associated with the respective last-mentioned valves, and air passages leadingfrom the said other ones of said pairs of openings and arranged to deliver air behind the diaphragms.

8. In automatic music sheet controlling .means for player pianos, in combina-. tion, a tracker bar having the usual series of openings and additional pairs of relatively laterally offset openings at the ends of said series, means for effecting lateral shifting movement of a music sheet passing over the bar embodying a two-chambered pneumatic, a pneumatic chest, a wind chest conduit in communication with the interior thereof, the pneumatic chest having air passages in communication with respective chambers of the pneumatic an d having intakes opening to the atmosphere, valves normally closing the intakes, the said pneumatic chest having sets of spaced chambers therein, diaphragms ex tending over the chambers, the chambers of each set being in communication with each other, the said valves'normally resting upon respective ones of the diaphragms of each set and being adapted tobe moved to position to uncover the intakes of the air passages and close communication between said passages and the interior of the pneumatic chest upon the admission of air behind their respective diaphragnis, the pneumatic chest having air passages including intakes opening to the atmosphere and outlets communieating with the other chambers of the said sets, valves normally closing the intakes of the lastin cntioned passages, pneumatic means operable upon uncovering of a respective one of the said pairso'l openings at either end of the bar to actuate the respective lastmentioned valve to uncover the intake of the respective passage and thereby admit air behind the diaphragm ot' the respective lastmentioned chamber, valves associated with the second-mentioned diaphragm, and means operable upon uncovering of the respective other ones of said pairs oi" openings to resist movement of the said respective seroad mcn tioned diaphragms.

9. In automatic music sheet controlling means for player pianos, in combination, a tracker bar having the-usual series of openings and additional pairs of relatively laterally oti'set openingsat the ends of said series, means for etiecting lateral shitting movement of amusic sheet passing over the bar embodying a two-chambered pneumatic, a pneumatic chest, a wind chest conduit in comn'innication with the interior thereof, the pneumatic, chest having air passages in cou'imunication with respective chambersot' the-pneumatic and having intakes opening to the atmosphere, valves normally closing the intakes, the said pneumatic chest having Sets of spaced chambers therein, diaphragms extending over the chambers, the chambers oi each set being in communication with each other, the said valves normally resting upon respective ones of the diaphragms of each set and being adapted to be moved to position to uncover the intakes of the air passages and close communication between said passages and the interior of the pneumatic chest upon the, admission of air behind their respectivediaphragms, the pneumatic chest having air passages including intakes opening to the atmosphere and outlets communicating with the other chambers ot the saidsets, valves normally closing the in-;

takes of the lastanentioned passages, pneumatic means operable upon uncovering of a respective one ot the said pairs of openings at either end of the bar to actuate the respective last-mentioned valve to uncover the intake ot the respective passage and thereby admit air behind the diaphragm of the res'pective last-mentioned chamber,the pneumatic chest having other chambers posi- 

